LGUs given more time to clear roads

CEBU, Philippines — To give local government units more time to prepare for their COVID-19 vaccination plan, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has again extended the road clearing operations until next month.

The LGUs were originally given until January 15, 2021 to clear the roads within their respective jurisdictions of illegal structures. The deadline was moved to January 22, 2021 then to February 15, 2021.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the validation of the LGUs’ compliance has also been moved to later dates.

“The deadline of the submission of all consolidated validation reports from the DILG regional offices will be one week after the end of the validation period or on March 9, 2021. We will not allow any modification in the report after submission," Malaya said in a statement.

According to the DILG, the extension was granted in consideration of the need of the LGUs to immediately prepare their local vaccination plans against COVID-19.

It can be recalled that DILG issued Memorandum No. 2021-007 tasking LGUs to come up with a local vaccination plan that contains the preparation of risk communication plans and conduct of early vaccine communication campaign to disseminate critical information on COVID-19 vaccination.

“We need to give LGUs time to focus on their local vaccination plans so we are giving them more time to undertake their road-clearing operations,” Malaya said.

The DILG added that LGUs under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) or Post-Quarantine Scenario will be validated according to their full implementation of road clearing operations.

The entire Cebu Province including the three highly urbanized cities--Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are under MGCQ.

LGUs will be evaluated based on seven components---removal of road obstructions, enactment of an enabling ordinance, conduct of an inventory of road obstructions, crafting and implementation of a displacement plan, rehabilitation of cleared roads, creation of a grievance mechanism, and compliance with the ban on tricycles along national roads.

LGUs' compliance on the ban of tricycles on national highways shall also be checked. — FPL (FREEMAN)